The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-17
OLD TIME CAMP MEETING.
A Few Interes ting Facts as Gathered from
O-urch Histo

O-urch Histo
A chapter upon camp-meetings may be
relished by the readers of the Sentinel now
that many have returned from them, and
others are still worshiping in the woods.
After looking through our old church his
tories, dating back more than three quarters
of q century, we refer to the history of the
church in this country, we find the first
mention made of camp or grove meetings
made in the year 1890. The first meeting
of the. kind seems to have been divinely
ordered, as those who figured most conspi.
cuously in it had no intention whatever of
holding one. 1t came upon them like the
spirit came upon the primitive Christians
on the day of Pentecost.
Upon the banks of the Red River in Ken
lucky about eighty years ago, there stood a
rude Presbyterian church where a small
congregation worshipped. Their pastor was
Rev. Mr.. NcGready. About the same
time there lived in West Tennessee Rev.
VIM. MCGEE, Presbyterian minister, and
his brother, Rev. John MCGEE, who was
Methodist minister. They were young
men, the purity of whose lives was known
to all the people, and they were as jealous
for Christ ana His cause as they were good.
Though holding parchments from different
church organizations and differing widely
in their views upon the extent of the
atonement, they worked harmoniously for
the conversion of sinners and the spread of
the gospel, just as brothers should do.
They felt that they were called OF God to
go over into Kentucky upon an evangel-
istic tour. Coming upon the Presbyterian
Church mentioned and learning that it
was sacramental occasion, they tarried
over the Sabbath. John MCGEE preached,
and the spirit of God fell upon
the people in copious showers.
When the time came to close the service it
was found impossible to do so. The num-
bers of worshippers and attentive listeners
increased every hour. Convictions and
conversions multiplied. Not far from the
church house was beautiful grove upon
ridge known as Cane Ridge. The people
were invited to this grove where all could
be accommodated. Wagon covers were
brought from farm houses, and other ma
terials from which booths or tents were
cor stIucted. Provisions were brought
from the surrounding country and the peo-
pie were fed and the work OF the spirit
went on until not less than twenty thous-
and people had been to hear, see and wor-
ship from the first to the last of the meet
ing. From the location of the grove it be-
came known as the "Cane Ridge Camp
Meeting" in the history of the church
in that part of the State. There are
people still living who are familiar
with the history of the "Cane Ridge camp
meeting of Kentucky" while many of the
hundreds who were converted then are
with the angels of COD now.
As we have said, this meeting was
doubtless by divine order. 1t was Gods
meeting out in the magnificent temple of
His own workmanship. Since those days
camp-meetings have been very popular
especially among Methodists, who have
been want to hold them in various coun-
try places during the Summer mouths.
Originally they were q necessity, as there
were but few church buildings, and the
people came together from longer distances
than they do now. Camp-meetings are no
longer q necessity in this country, aud
such meetings have become mere places of
resort and recreation, places OF pleasure
ard gossip. Convictions and conversions
ct camp-meeuDgs are incidents
Of the past, A pure, genuine old fashioue
conversion ct cemp-meeting nowadays
would be as astonishing as some of the
oritoueal flights of Sam Jones.
From camp-meetings came the idea of
wateripg-places, resorts, parks, etc., all OF
which is well enough when used and not
abused, but to attach to them the idea of
religious gatherings is simply preposterous.
AS a rule religious people who attend them
backslide instead of being confirmed in the
faith. Some of them do not rise to the
plane of even intellectual entertainments,
to say nothing of their purifying ~ in
auence upon the hearts of the youth OF the
country. PULPIT.
Indianapolis, August IS.